Description: APOLLO VICTORIA THEATRE
I like to go to the theatre and especially to see a musical. As I live in the Essex/Greater London area, close to a central line underground station, I usually choose to travel to one of London’s West End theatres. The last one I visited was the Apollo Victoria.
The musical I went to see was ‘Wicked.’ This musical has been running at the Apollo Victoria since September 2006.
ABOUT THE APOLLO VICTORIA
The Apollo Victoria Theatre is a large theatre able to seat over two thousand people. I thought that although it’s large it didn't really feel it and had a pleasant atmosphere.
I liked this theatre. I found staff friendly and helpful. One thing I particularly appreciated was the fact that we were able to get into the foyer before the show started; we arrived at the theatre almost an hour before the show was to begin and the foyer was already bustling. It was a cold and drizzly day and so it was a pleasant change to other theatres we have been to when you aren't allowed into the foyer or bar until nearer to the time of the show starting. We were able to use the toilets and had time to purchase a programme. We found the bar too busy and it felt claustrophobic to me.
The Apollo Victoria was opened in 1929 as a then modern state of the art cinema, designed by Ernest Walmsley Lewis. It closed in the 1970s, and then re-opened under the name, the New Victoria Theatre mainly showing musicals.
Starlight Express played at The Apollo Victoria (with the theatre fully adapted with its train track) for eighteen years. The musical Wicked was first shown here in 2006.
BOOKING
Tickets for shows at the Apollo Victoria can be booked on-line or direct with the theatre’s box office, by telephone or in person.
The theatre’s website is: http://www.apollovictoriatheatre.org
I booked three tickets for the show directly with the theatre by telephone. I found the service was good and the assistant in the box office was helpful; he seemed to be knowledgeable about which seats were the best for particular reasons and had advice about which seats were best for those with mobility difficulties.
I explained that I didn't wish to climb too many stairs. The assistant explained that in his opinion these seats would be the best out of all available for this performance; the view was good and there weren't many stairs to climb. The seats cost over sixty pounds each and this was top price. There wasn't time to have the tickets posted which means no P&P costs. It’s just a question of noting a reference number (and some theatres ask that you take the debit card you paid with to the theatre as proof they are yours when collecting) but in this case, when I arrived at the theatre, I simply showed the reference number to the assistant in the box office and the tickets were quickly produced.
SEATS
I was pleased with our seats in the theatres circle. It’s unusual that this theatre has stairs leading down to the stalls and not too many to ascend to the circle. After climbing a few stairs to the circle there are more seats further up.
The theatre has two ‘proper’ levels, the stalls and circle. Most west end theatres have three, or even more levels.
Our seats in the circle were fairly central to the stage and a few rows back. Our view was unrestricted. Certain shows suit certain theatres and as ‘Wicked’ is a spectacle most seats have at least a fairly good view of the stage.
I thought the rake in this theatre was very good; better than in many London theatres. We had a good view of the stage.
Theatre glasses were available for hire (I can’t remember if they were fifty pence or one pound) but I didn’t use these as find them a little annoying.
FACILITIES
Our seats weren't too far away from the toilets but all the same, by the time we reached them a long queue had formed. The queue for the ladies, as always, was longer than the one for the men’s.
We also found the bar too crowded both before the show and during the interval and this prevented us from purchasing a drink, instead we made do with the water, we had brought with us.
Staff walked about selling soft drinks, savoury snacks and sweets at a hefty price.
The theatre offers the use of a cloakroom.
It has two bars on both levels and male and female toilets located on both levels.
GIFT SHOP
After the show we went to the gift shop and treated our daughter to a souvenir. The CDs, Tee shirts and souvenirs were expensive, but that always seems to be the case in theatres, particularly those situated in London’s West End.
DISABLED ACCESS
I would say that disabled access is pretty good here. Th main entrance, in Wilton Road, to the foyer and booking office has steps but there is another entrance on Vauxhall Bridge Road which is accessible for wheelchair users.
The theatre has a wheelchair lift leading to the foyer bar lift and disabled toilets. Another lift leads to the circle where there are wheelchair spaces. The theatre allows up to four wheelchair spaces per performance.
There are scheduled audio described, signed and captioned performances of Wicked on some Saturdays throughout the year.
For further information on disabled access and concessions contact the box office or email- apolloboxoffice@theambassadors.com
There are quite a few steps leading down to the stalls, therefore the best place for those with mobility problems is the circle.
Access tickets are available for shows at this theatre; I think usually two tickets will be reduced by £10.
Disabled toilets are available.
LOCATION
The theatre is a few steps away from London’s Victoria Station which is a mainline and underground station. The underground station is served by the Circle, District and Victoria lines.
We travelled by underground changing once to get to Victoria Station.
When exiting Victoria underground station the theatre’s main entrance at Wilton Way can be seen just a few metres away. On our visit there wasn't a clear view of the theatre from here owing to building works.
Victoria coach station is close by and buses and taxis run near to the theatre too.
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